Half Empty or Half Full?

In my younger years, I competed in local, regional, and even national speech contests for “Optimist International,” a group seeking and dedicated to bringing out the best in young people and fostering a sense of optimism and empowerment.

(Some of the young men who helped me pack up and move into my new living residence.  As a gag gift I gave them Pez to help keep them happy!)

It was more than 20 years ago, but I remember clearly that almost every other contestant explained how someone with an optimistic outlook would rather see a “half empty” glass as “half full.”  A cooking version of this would be something like, “turning lemons into lemonade.”   And there’s always the expression, “Every cloud has a silver lining.”

(Costa Rican sunset after a storm.)

Optimism rests in a person’s ability to see how life’s setbacks do not mean that life is not worth living.  It all depends on how we look at things.  We’ve all met negative people.  We know their way of living and thinking doesn’t make things better for them or for anyone else.  At the same time, we know people that, by their energy, enthusiasm for life, and their generally happier disposition, seem to have the “power” to change a bad situation into something more manageable.  It can even make it “better.”

Without optimism our lives take a rather ugly turn!  But optimism, which comes from human ability, substantially differs from “hope.”  The characteristics of hope and optimism possess similarities.  But they are distinct.  As said before, optimism comes from a positive human disposition.  Hope comes from a higher power.  Hope’s origin, sustenance, and finality rest in God’s promise to be with us through thick and thin.  God promises to be in the “kitchen of life,” especially when the cupboards run empty and when the kitchen gets overheated!  Read the prophetic experience of the widow and her son who had no more food! (1 Kings 17: 8-16)

(At a recent event, a GBM follower gave me a gift: homemade bread with the image of the Last Supper imprinted on it.  Amazing and delicious!)

As cooks, we all have challenging culinary experiences: not having the right ingredients, cooking equipment, or enough time to finish a dish!  How we handle those situations determines the outcome of the food and, ultimately, the experience of the meal.  Recently, I’ve had to cook in very new situations and under great pressure.  Practicing a calm disposition (a human developmental trait) and praying for trust and inspiration in God (a theological and spiritual developmental trait) eventually lead to successful and even imaginative new recipes!

(The “matriarch” of the Taylor Family Winery.  Even though the crop of grapes didn’t turn out as expected, they still harvested and created a delicious dessert wine.)

To survive in this life, we need optimism, but ultimately, we have to rely on hope.  We need optimism because it helps us deal with other people in a better, more pleasant way.  We need hope to help us deal with our private thoughts and our own fears in life.  Hope helps us realize that a positive outcome does not depend on our efforts, but ultimately, it comes from God.

(A group of young people from Steubenville on the Bayou, ready to face the struggles of life with faith in God!)

I bring this up, not just because the idea of a half full or half empty glass can help a struggling cook to improve.  The topics of optimism and hope can help families get through the difficult economic news.  As summer is definitely half over, parents can help young children deal with the potential sadness and “depression” of the dread of the start of the school year!

Here, I’m preaching to myself.  I need a more optimistic disposition as the summer comes to a quick close, and the busyness of speaking/presentations/filming kicks back into high gear!  While I need an optimistic outlook, especially in my dealings with others, I ultimately need hope in order to see how all these busy things will eventually get done when I rely on God.

(In the home of Deacon Joe and Jenny Stephens with the production crew for “Savoring Our Faith,” airing in the spring of 2012.)

Let us pray:  Lord, change our fear into hope.  Change our negative attitude into something more optimistic, lest our faith be questioned because of our bitterness and fears.  Teach us Lord, by our determination to pray at all times,  for You are with us, shepherding us to green pastures and still waters.  Amen.

These are a few one-liners that help describe the collaboration between hope and optimism, may be helpful for your discussion with family, colleagues, and even in your own prayers,

“I can do all things in Christ who strengthen me.” –Philippians 4:13

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” –Albert Einstein

“Work as if all things depend on you. Pray as if all things depend on God.” –Saint Augustine

Now that your summer is more than half over (I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it is), I hope you and your family have left room in your schedule for more inspired opportunities to be filled up with even more Good News!

(The Basilica of St. Ann De Beaupre in Quebec Canada.)

Let Us Know

Is there an area in your life that needs a bit more optimism and a lot more hope?  Do you have any success stories of when you had some difficulty but eventually everything turned out for the best?  Do you have any “invented” recipes – things you had to make up in a pinch – to share with our community?  Your comments, questions, ideas, and suggestions help motivate us and keep our small (but busy) operation more optimistic and hopeful.  It lets us know you all care!  Please share your thoughts and comments here. And please forward this to your friends and family to help create more discussions at the dinner table and share some Grace.

Be sure to check out Fr. Leo’s Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube pages for new videos and updates!

Posted in Dinner Discussion, Grace Before Meals, Prayers | 6 Comments »

The Return of Webisodes!

As summer winds down and the school year prepares to start, Fr. Leo is vacationing up in Quebec, hard at work on his new book, Spicing Up Married Life, which is very close to being completed! As a result, he will return next week with a new eBlast. In case you have not kept up on Facebook, click on the video icon below to check out some videos he recently posted:

Beer Butt Chicken….can you think of a better name?

So as he enjoys the rest of his time in Canada, we are happy to announce the return of Webisodes!

It has been a long time since we have had a new Grace Before Meals episode to share. But given that Fr. Leo has traveled quite a bit, we have been able to join him on some of his adventures, and now you can too. This week’s webisode is from when Fr. Leo traveled to Genoa, Italy and was filmed by Catholics Next Door’s Greg Willits!

Click above to watch the video on Gracebeforemeals.com!

Be sure to stay tuned each week as we hope to share more videos, including stops at famous locales such as Gott’s Roadside and Brix Restauraunt in Napa Valley.

Speaking of which, we are working on a special documentary about Fr. Leo’s recent Napa Valley Retreat, called “Fruit of the Vine, Work of Human Hands”, which included stops at some of the world’s most famous wineries, so look for more videos to come.

Fr. Leo giving a toast one of the last nights in Napa Valley.

What types of videos would you like to see? Is there a recipe you want Fr. Leo to make?

Let us know at info@gracebeforemeals.com!

Let us pray:

Father, thank you for your great blessings and for giving us the opportunity to reach more people through new media. May we spread your Word and your Love through our videos and posts, sharing recipes and adventures as we hope to eventually share in your heavenly banquet. May families grow stronger and more faithful, whether at the dinner table or in everyday life and may we seek to please you with our daily offerings. Help us to guide many more to You, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Mary, Holy Mother of God, please pray for us, that God’s will be done. Amen.

Posted in Grace Before Meals, Media, Video, What's On the Table | No Comments »